My dear friends, I apologize for not posting any thoughts in a while. The last few weeks have been very time-consuming. I am in the midst of final exams, which will end on May 28th. My next post will be shortly after that time! Be well, take care of yourself and your families. Best, Juan Advertisements

I just returned from a ten-day vacation in Boston, which included a weekend in NY, visiting family. There was one drawback. I did not get to see the friends I was hoping to see. I was sorely disappointed! In the weeks leading up to my departure, I found myself reliving my teenage years all over again. My gal pals and […]

One of the drawbacks to country living, is finding fun things to do for for an entire month of school vacation. Luckily for me, in a matter of days, I’m heading to the USA. I will divide my time between Boston and New York. I am especially looking forward to reuniting with high school girl-friends. I have not seen them in more than a decade. They were an integral part of my formative years. I expect the visit be Remarkable. Wonderful. Amazing. Electrifying. As I contemplated the experiences ahead of me, my thoughts were drawn to the remarkable women I have met along life’s path. I am in awe of their achievements. These women did not receive any educational, monetary or social accolades. These women are single parents. Friends. Caretakers. Confidants. Some of the most unassuming people you will ever meet. Quite a few are unknowingly auditioning for sainthood. One of my heroes is Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women who are victims of war, genocide and rape. She works tirelessly to help thousands regain pride and rebuild lives. Not all of us will be a Zainab Salbi. However, our accomplishments are nothing short of phenomenal. They may never appear in newspapers. Nor will they ever be the lead story on Headline News. To put it bluntly, most of our friends will never know just truly exceptional we are. We do not fish for […]

More than a decade ago, a dear friend introduced me to the concept of a gratitude journal. Initially, I did not see the need. Time passed before I became converted to the idea.The ensuing years saw sporadic entries. However, this year has fared better than any other. A perfect record exists. Some days it’s easier than others to express gratitude. Why a gratitude journal? Who has the time? Our days are consumed with one hustle after another. Errands are not going to run themselves. Assignment fairies do not write papers. Lecture notes do not magically compile themselves.The kids are not going to drive themselves to school. On and on and on. A million and one little excuses. I will admit a gratitude journal is not for everyone. Some might find it silly. Inconsequential. A waste of time. For me, it’s a way of recognizing immeasurable blessings. The days can be arduous. It could be the day I got an unsatisfactory grade on an assignment. A long-awaited phone call never came. I had a fight with a dear friend. A family member fell ill. The car broke down. A relationship fell apart before it got off the ground. Affection was not returned. It is difficult to express gratitude on days like this. Especially when you are alone with your thoughts. Let me share a few reasons why I keep a gratitude journal. Life is a gift. It is wonderful. Amazing. Rewarding. It […]

I have not forgotten why I am single, however, I am grateful for the occasional reminders! Is it ever okay to call a potential date four times in the same day? I should think not! It might just send the wrong message to the right person. Let me explain. On Sunday, I was in a car with four other people, one of which is a guy who I sensed has liked me for a few months. No the feeling is not mutual. It might sound harsh,however, I do not believe in wasting my time or the other person’s if I am not interested. Let’s call this guy John (as a way of protecting the innocent). He took some time to get around to asking for my number, and immediately followed up with asking me out. He was painfully oblivious to any hint that it was a bad idea. The situation became awkward. Had it been just the two of us, the obvious answer would have been a “No”. However, I did not want to embarrass him in front of his friends, so I said :”Sure,why not?”. The silence in the car was deafening. Long. Seemed more like 20 seconds instead of the 3 it was. The next day, John called me in the evening at 8:27,9:27 (I answered this one, however, being unable to talk, I asked him to call me back later), he did call back at 10:15,and then […]

After many years away from the blogging world, I decided the time was right to make a second attempt at it. I am not one to update on every daily, minute aspect of my life. Some things are better left unsaid, besides my family and close friends know most of what is happening in my life, so there is no need to broadcast it here. However, I realize that I have many,many friends, some of whom I do not get to talk to very often. It is my hope that this blog will lessen the divide which exists between us. So why another attempt? First of all, I am not good at keeping up with daily diary/journal entries, as a matter-of-fact, I totally suck at it!. A blog is a good way to keep a record,albeit a partial one, of life’s events and moments. I figure that between this blog and my feeble attempt at keeping a journal, I should have something to share with my kids and grand kids when they do come along. A few entries per week should suffice. Secondly, I like to write. I still remember the first time I discovered this interest. Many moons ago, I was sitting in a fifth form English class at Marriaqua Secondary School (it has been renamed to St.Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua), and my English teacher chose my story among others, to read to the class. Needless to say it was […]